Portsoken

Portsoken (electoral ward) is one of the 25 wards of the City of London, lying on its eastern edge. The name comes from the Old English "soke" (a jurisdiction) linked to the medieval port at Aldgate, and the ward has ancient origins dating back to the period outside the Roman wall.

Today the compact ward borders the London Borough of Tower Hamlets and mixes City offices and newer developments with pockets of residential streets and social housing, giving it a stronger local community presence than many central wards. Its location close to the Tower of London and Liverpool Street station, together with ongoing redevelopment, means Portsoken presents a distinctive blend of medieval history and contemporary urban change.